expression. âWhich is why we have to be very convincing,â she said firmly.
âAgreed.â The car slowed, and he glanced out the window. âHereâs the hotelâput on your best Iâm-so-in-love acting face, honey, because the curtain is about to go up.â
Chapter Four
T he Grand Sylvaniaâs portico roof shielded the car from the rain as Eli stepped out and turned to take Frankieâs hand. The well-lit area did nothing to hold the wind at bay, however, and the two hurried into the hotel lobby, joining other guests to ride an escalator to the second floor. The muted rumble of crowd laughter and conversation underlaid an orchestraâs rendition of a Broadway tune as they stepped off the moving stairs and neared an open ballroom door.
A hotel employee greeted them, taking Frankieâs coat before passing it on to a young woman in a white evening gown, a Childrenâs Hospital ribbon pinned to her bodice.
âMay I have your tickets, please?â
Frankie quickly located the lavender cards in her small evening purse and handed them over.
âAh, yes. This way, please.â
âThank you.â Frankie smiled at their hostess and followed her. Close behind her, Eliâs hand rested on the curve of her waist, his palm and long fingers warm and faintly possessive. Frankie was vibrantly aware of his broad bulk at her back; the very air separating them seemed alive with electricity.
They wound their way between tables toward the front of the big room. Frankie scanned the guests, locating Cornelia seated with Harry and another couple at a table for six on the edge of the polished dance floor.
Cornelia looked up, her lips curving in a welcoming smile as she raised a hand to beckon with a wave. Then her gaze moved past Frankie, her eyes widening as she saw Eli. She quickly looked back at Frankie, her eyebrows lifting in silent query just as the two reached the table.
âHello, Mother.â Frankie bent to kiss Corneliaâs cheek and paused to say hello to Marcia Adkins.
Harry and Jonathon Adkins stood, greeting Frankie and Eli as he drew out a chair for her. She murmured her thanks, smoothing her skirts as Eli settled into the chair next to her.
âI didnât know you were bringing Eli,â Cornelia said with a smile. âBut Iâm glad you did. Itâs lovely to see you, Eli. I hardly got to say more than hello to you the other evening at Harryâs house.â
âIâm sorry, Cornelia. Justin and Lily promised Avashe could have a pet rabbit for her birthday. We spent most of the evening discussing the proper size of the hutch weâre going to build.â Eliâs eyes twinkled.
âThatâs my Ava,â Harry said with a fond pride. âYouâll notice she went straight to a professional builder,â he said to Jonathon.
âNot to mention choosing a man most likely to give her whatever she wants,â Eli said dryly, earning him a soft, approving smile from Cornelia.
âYouâve got competition for the title,â Harry told him. âFrom her dad, me and her three uncles.â
Eli laughed. âTrue. Sheâs a charmer, that little girl.â He turned to speak with a waiter, and Cornelia leaned close to murmur in Frankieâs ear.
âYou didnât tell me Eli was your date for tonight.â
âIt was a last-minute thing,â Frankie whispered back.
âI didnât realize you two were dating.â Corneliaâs comment held a question.
âWeâve seen each other a few times,â Frankie said. It wasnât really a lie, she told herself. She and Eli had seen each other recentlyâonce at Harryâs house and then again at his office. That qualified as seeing each other, didnât it?
Corneliaâs expression was intrigued, but before she could question Frankie further, two waiters arrived with bottles of champagne and began pouring.
âOh, how